CRAIG PRODUCTIONS LLC

I’m a black and white person, especially when it comes to contest dieting. There’s no gray area on my nutrition plan. It’s very specific. It’s all written down. Unlike a map, there is only one route to get me from A to B, I can’t take detours and I can’t utilize shortcuts. I have to follow the plan as it’s written so I achieve the desired results.

Willpower is not something that some people are born with and others are not. Willpower is a habit, just like almost everything else in life that determines if you’re going to be successful…or not. Contest dieting is a mental game that requires willpower…a habit that comes with practice. When I started competing 3 ½ years ago it was definitely not as cut and dry to diet as it is for me today. I needed cheat meals to help me mentally. My body didn’t need them but my mind did. These days I don’t do cheat meals during contest prep.

So how do you develop the mental strength and the willpower to stay true to your diet? I have a lot of mental chatter that goes on in my head so I use it to my advantage. In fact, I was just telling Elaine yesterday at the gym that I tend to have really good workouts when I train alone (nobody take this personally!!!) simply because the mental chatter that goes on in my own head is what drives me the most and pushes me to those last few reps I maybe wouldn’t have done. Things like: “Would the winner quit now?” or “Everybody’s watching…you gonna get those last 2 or not?” or “Do you really want to walk away from this set knowing you didn’t give it your everything?” I hate letting myself down, so this talk usually works very well for me. A while back I started telling myself…TRAIN LIKE EVERYBODY’S WATCHING.

A few weeks ago I realized this carried over into my kitchen and so I started telling myself…

EAT LIKE YOUR COMPETITION IS WATCHING

If I imagine one of my competitors is sitting in my kitchen watching every move I make, I guarantee you there is nothing going in my mouth that isn’t supposed to be there. Being surrounded by a ton of “non contest” foods in my home, I have come to rely heavily on mental strategies to help me stay on task. Imagining the watchful eye of another figure competitor who will be on stage with me has been the best strategy I’ve found so far.

And if you’re reading this thinking…”I wonder WHO she imagines!!” My competition has no face, no name…she just IS. After all, my competition is really MYSELF. I’m not competing with any specific person. Just doing everything in my power to bring my A game!

Today is Super Bowl Sunday and many of you have families and obligations that require you to attend some sort of Super Bowl function that will likely include an array of junk foods and drinks. Maybe you have planned this as a cheat meal but maybe you are staying on task and packing your own foods. If you are in a position where you are attending a non-competitor friendly function today…try EATING LIKE YOUR COMPETITION IS WATCHING. It may just make the difference for you reaching into the chip bowl…or not. Remember your goal. That food may taste good but it probably comes at a pretty high price that you just don’t need to pay right now.

A big shout out to all the ladies who come out to Julie Michaelson Training yesterday for posing class! The positive energy and enthusiasm was infectious! Thank you to Elaine for being a wonderful instructor and to Diane Rudholm at ABB/ON and Shannon at BSN for the samples and goodies!

We got the Emerald Cup "green band" mojo goin' on!! Register and get YOURS!!

Be Fearless. Own Yourself.

~Julie~

Fearless, with cape in hand…in relentless pursuit of the GOLDEN tiara

www.juliemichaelsontraining.com

Twitter: @iriefitgirl

Tags: contest prep | diet | training | Posing | Mental Strength | 2012 Emerald Cup